Ariel Winter says she cut off part of her thumb while cooking and then accidentally threw it away

Ariel Winter is recovering after an unfortunate incident in the kitchen.

The Modern Family actress told Access on Wednesday, May 6 (US time) that she accidentally cut off the top of her thumb while cooking food.

"I just got new knives too," the 22-year-old recalled, while showing off her bandaged thumb. "I went to chop a peeled tomato and sliced the top part of my thumb off on a peeled tomato. I was so shocked that it was more like hyperventilating. I was like, 'I should be crying but I can't believe it, I can't believe it.'"

Ariel Winter accidentally cut off the tip of her thumb. (Access)

Winter said she actually "sliced an artery" and her bled so much she went straight to hospital.

Her boyfriend Luke Benward "actually brought the tip of my finger to the hospital," she said.

It gets worse.

The nurse gave Winter back the piece of her thumb in a plastic bag, but the actress didn't know what was in the bag and mistakenly threw it out.

Ariel Winter (Nine)

Despite the inconvenience, Winter is thankful for the medical help she received.

"I mean, it's the top of my thumb, it definitely hurt and it wasn't fun and it was a good portion of it," she said. "But at the same time, they took great care of me, I was bleeding a lot, but again, it's my thumb. So many people are in there for so much worse."